Expand View Figure 41 Groundwater use in Australia as a percentage of total water consumption Source: Deloitte Access Economics (2013) For more information, go toNational frameworks Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 42 Surface-water systems in Australia where trading occurred in 2019–20 Source: BOM (2021a) For more information, go toManagement approaches Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 43 Median allocation price against storage volume (% full) volume, southern Murray–Darling Basin, 2008–09 to 2019–20 ML = megalitre Note: Only shows storages that facilitate water trades. Source: BOM (2021a) Download Go to data.gov For more information, go toManagement approaches Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Expand View Figure 43 Median allocation price against storage volume (% full) volume, southern Murray–Darling Basin, 2008–09 to 2019–20
Name Area (km2) Average rainfall (mm) Major rivers Drains to North East Coast 451,000 827 Suttor River, Belyando River, Nogoa River Coral Sea (Pacific Ocean) South East Coast (NSW) 129,500 995 Manning River, Karuah River, Hunter River, Hawkesbury River Tasman Sea (Pacific Ocean) South East Coast (Vic) 134,600 734 Thomson River (Vic), Macalister River, Snowy River, Yarra River, Glenelg River Southern Ocean, Bass Strait Tasmania 68,000 1,398 River Derwent, Gordon River, Huon River, South Esk River Southern Ocean, Bass Strait, Tasman Sea (Pacific Ocean) Murray–Darling Basin 1,061,000 458 Murray River, Darling River, Murrumbidgee River, Lachlan River Southern Ocean South Australian Gulf 117,700 306 River Torrens, Onkaparinga River, Gawler River, Broughton River Great Australian Bight (Southern Ocean) South Western Plateau 1,093,000 232 none Great Australian Bight (Southern Ocean) South West Coast 326,000 439 Avon River, Blackwood River Indian Ocean, Great Australian Bight (Southern Ocean) Pilbara–Gascoyne 478,000 259 Greenough River, Murchison River Indian Ocean North Western Plateau 716,000 316 De Grey River Indian Ocean Tanami–Timor Sea Coast 1,162,000 656 Ord River, Alligator Rivers, Daly River, Katherine River, Fitzroy River Timor Sea (Indian Ocean) Lake Eyre Basin 1,281,000 242 Georgina River, Diamantina River, Thomson River (Qld), Barcoo River, Cooper Creek Lake Eyre Carpentaria Coast 647,000 744 Mitchell River, Flinders River, Gilbert River, Leichhardt River Gulf of Carpentaria, Arafura Sea km2 = square kilometre; mm = millimetre; NSW = New South Wales; Qld = Queensland; Vic = Victoria For more information, go toWater sources Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
City 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 Volume (ML) % of total Volume (ML) % of total Volume (ML) % of total Volume (ML) % of total Adelaide 4,000 3 4,300 3 4,815 1.8 40,001 15 Canberra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Darwin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Melbourne 46,000 11 15,000 3 22,374 3 119,471 16 Perth 149,000 53 149,000 52 89,295 30 140,048 44 South-east Queensland 2,000 <1 2,800 1 6,438 1.6 13,805 3.3 Sydney 0 0 0 0 7,793 0.8 71,147 7 ML = megalitre Sources: Urban National Performance Report (BOM 2018d, BOM 2019b, BOM 2020b, BOM 2021f) For more information, go toWater sources Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Year Major event Response or action, Indigenous and non-Indigenous 2016 NSW drought Fitzroy River/Martuwarra Declaration is made in Western Australia. Victorian Government releases the Water for Victoria water plan, committing $9.7 million to Aboriginal water. National Water Infrastructure Development Fund is established. National Water Infrastructure Loan Facility provides state and territory governments with loans for water infrastructure projects. Change in leadership at NSW DPI Water (still Liberal government) abolishes the Aboriginal Water Initiative structure and team. Northern Territory opposition makes a pre-election promise to revisit Strategic Indigenous Reserves. 2017 NSW drought Module to the NWI guidelines is published: Engaging Indigenous peoples in water planning and management (COAG). NT Government releases stakeholder discussion paper on Strategic Aboriginal Water Reserves (SAWRs) and then legislates SAWRs. Victorian DELWP begins recruiting staff for the Aboriginal Water Unit. Book by Dr Virginia Marshall is launched: Overturning aqua nullius: securing Aboriginal water rights. Pumped airs on ABC 4 Corners, resulting in NSW ministers and executive being referred to ICAC. In Victoria, Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017; involves the response and actions of establishing the Birrarung Council, Yarra Collaboration Committee, Yarra Strategic Plan and the Wurundjeri Water Policy. South Australian Royal Commission into MDB is held (noting that Australian Government staff are not approved to be cross-examined). NSW Ombudsman report published: Investigation into water compliance and enforcement 2007 to 2017. Productivity Commission (December 2017) final report on national water reform is released on 31 May 2018. MDBA Compliance Review 2017 is held. 2018 NSW drought Darling River fish deaths Productivity Commission 5-year review of the MDB Plan begins. National Cultural Flows Research Project findings are launched by NBAN and MLDRIN. Northern Connectivity Event 2018 is conducted between April and July 2018 by CEWO and NSW to connect and replenish remaining water holes in the Barwon–Darling River. Two independent science studies (both with no Aboriginal members) into lower Baaka/Barka – Darling River fish deaths are conducted, one by the Academy of Science and one for MDBA by Vertessy et al (2019). Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine water quality are updated and released in 2018; the guidelinesinclude the development of cultural and spiritual guidelines and Indigenous principles for water quality. The Australian Government provides $40 million to purchase water entitlements for Indigenous people in the MDBA. 2019 Australian catastrophic bushfires Australian Journal of Environmental Management special edition on Indigenous water management is published, with 6 papers with Indigenous authors. The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is created in a machinery-of-government move. The Flow – Monitoring, Evaluation and Research program is awarded by CEWO to CSIRO and University of Canberra. 2020 Australian catastrophic fires COVID-19 global pandemic Rain finally comes in most of MDB The documentary When the river runs dry is screened, showing the impact of dry rivers on the Australian landscape. Australian Government review of the EPBC Act is conducted, and Samuels releases Final report of the independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). SoE 2021 includes Indigenous lead and co-authors for chapters for the first time. Productivity Commission releases review into NWI. National Water Reform Committee is re-established (originally established in 2014). Australian Government, states and territories agree to establish Committee on Aboriginal Water Interests to give a voice to Aboriginal people through the NWI refresh. National Agreement on Closing the Gap (2020) includes Outcome 15: People maintain a distinctive cultural, spiritual, physical and economic relationship with their land and waters. Report is released of the NSW ICAC investigation into complaints of corruption in the management of water in New South Wales and systemic noncompliance with the Water Management Act 2000. CEWO = Commonwealth Environmental Water Office; COAG = Council of Australian Governments; DELWP = Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning; DPI = Department of Primary Industries; EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999; ICAC = Independent Commission Against Corruption; MDB = Murray–Darling Basin; MDBA = Murray–Darling Basin Authority; MLDRIN = Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations; NBAN = Northern Basin Aboriginal Nations; NSW = New South Wales; NT = Northern Territory; NWI = National Water Initiative; SoE = state of the environment Sources: Stewart (2013), DENR (2017a), Northern and Central Land Councils (2017), Taylor et al. (2017), Moggridge & Thompson (2021a) For more information, go toIndigenous water Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Salinity category Total dissolved solids concentration (mg/L) Suitability for use Fresh 0–500 Good-quality water suitable for drinking and all irrigation Marginal 500–1,000 Fair- to poor-quality drinking water; suitable for most irrigation; adverse effects on ecosystems may become apparent Brackish 1,000–3,000 Unacceptable-quality drinking water; useful for most livestock; irrigation limited to certain crops Saline 3,000–35,000 Unacceptable drinking water quality; use may be limited for certain livestock Hypersaline >35,000 Seawater salinity or greater; undrinkable; some mining and industrial uses mg/L = milligrams per litre For more information, go toWater quality Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Saline category 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 Fresh 58 61 59 60 Marginal 15 14 15 12 Brackish 12 11 12 11 Saline 14 14 14 17 For more information, go toWater quality Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Jurisdiction Water Resource Plan Percentage complete Progress ACT ACT Surface Water 100 Plan accredited ACT ACT Groundwater 100 Plan accredited NSW Gwydir Surface Water 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Macquarie–Castlereagh 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Lachlan Surface Water 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Gwydir Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Lachlan Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Macquarie–Castlereagh Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW NSW Border Rivers Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Namoi Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Murray Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Murrumbidgee Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW NSW Border Rivers 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Barwon–Darling 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Namoi Surface Water 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Murrumbidgee 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW NSW Murray Lower Darling 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Intersecting Streams 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Darling Alluvium 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Murray–Darling Basin Porous Rock 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW NSW GAB Shallow 80 Final plan submitted for assessment NSW Murray–Darling Basin Fractured Rock 80 Final plan submitted for assessment Qld Warrego Paroo Nebine 100 Plan accredited Qld Condamine–Balonne 100 Plan accredited Qld Qld Border Rivers–Moonie 100 Plan accredited SA SA Murray Region 100 Plan accredited SA Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges 100 Plan accredited Vic Wimmera–Mallee Groundwater 100 Plan accredited Vic Wimmera–Mallee Surface Water 100 Plan accredited Vic Goulburn–Murray 100 Plan accredited Vic Northern Victoria 100 Plan accredited Vic Victorian Murray 100 Plan accredited SA River Murray 100 Plan accredited ACT = Australian Capital Territory; NSW = New South Wales; Qld = Queensland; SA = South Australia; Vic = Victoria Source: MDBA (2021c) For more information, go toNational frameworks Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link
Year Surface-water allocation trade (GL) Surface-water entitlement trade (GL) Groundwater allocation trade (GL) Groundwater entitlement trade (GL) 2016–17 6,840 1,732 197 341 2017–18 7,290 1,229 236 369 2018–19 5,518 1,317 281 414 2019–20 5,956 1,553 319 408 GL = gigalitre Sources: BOM (2018a), BOM (2019e), BOM (2020c), BOM (2021a) For more information, go toManagement approaches Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linkedin Share this link